Hiding in Plain Sight
For the last few days, China-hand journalists have been whispering and sending coded emails about the late Zhao Ziyang’s forthcoming memoirs, timed for the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre. Publisher Simon and Schuster struck elaborate embargo agreements with the major media, which apparently have been moved up to 8 p.m. today. Meanwhile, in Hong Kong “Prisoner of the State: The Secret Journal of Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang,” edited by Bao Pu, Renee Chiang and Adi Ignatius has been on sale in Hong Kong for several days — TT bought a copy at the Dymocks store in Prince’s Building last Sunday. The cloak and dagger business sure made for a great marketing campaign, though.
Update: After this post, Reuters and Time released their stories on the Zhao memoir.
